Texas (Washington Insider Magazine) -Republican Gov. Greg Abbott tested positive for Covid-19 as reported by his staff on Aug. 17. His positive test will likely see him receive further scrutiny from critics. Abbott in March 2021 lifted the state mask mandate and a businesses to operate at 100% capacity, despite warning from health officials of the potential repercussions.
News of his infection came after he attended a crowded, unmasked indoor event the previous day.
Abbott told reporters in March that “too many Texans have been sidelined from employment opportunities”
CNN reported that he justified the mandate to defend “small business owners” who have “struggled to pay their bills.”
Texas has suffered a recent surge in Covid-19 cases. The state reported that on Aug. 17 that there were 11,791 infections and only 327 intensive-care unit (ICU) beds available.
Abbott joins a list of governors that have tested positive for Covid-19 as the ongoing pandemic continues to affect the nation and world, in particular the highly-contagious Delta mutation of the virus.
It has accounted for 98.8% of new Covid-19 cases according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report on Aug. 17. It has compiled data since Aug. 14 and comes as the United States reaches an estimated 37 million cases since the start of the pandemic’s spread in spring 2020, according to data provided by John Hopkins University based in Maryland.
An internal CDC report obtained by the Washington Post in July 2021 stated that the Delta-variant appears to be much more contagious than earlier variants and it spreads as easily as the chicken pox.
The alleged document went on to state that health officials must “acknowledge the war has changed,” portraying the struggle the CDC has had with convincing Americans of the necessity of vaccines and mask wearing, despite recent surges.
White House Covid-19 Data Director Cyrus Shahpar tweeted on Aug. 17 that every state has 50% or more of those eligible, ages 12 and up, who have at least one shot of the vaccine, with some states exceeding the 80% threshold.
He added that the U.S. requires “high vaccination coverage everywhere to be fully protected.” USA Today reports that Biden health officials are expected to recommend booster shots as early as this week to all Americans regardless of age eight months after receiving the second Pfizer or Moderna shot.
The EU has also responded to the delta-variant, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announcing that 70% of EU citizens have at least one shot and 57% has two shots at the end of July.
New Zealand is the most recent nation to react to the delta-variant with CNN reporting that the island nation went into lockdown following its first reported community Covid-19 case in more than six-months on Aug. 17.
Today health officials there announced an additional six-cases, with New Zealand Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield warning that an additional 50-120 new cases could arise based on modeling that took the delta-variant into account.
